Software like VAC and Riot's Vanguard may be at the cutting edge of anti-cheating operations, but a scandal at the recent World Conker Championship shows that gamers trying to get an unfair edge started long before aimbots plagued Counter-Strike. The most recent conker competition took place this past weekend in Northamptonshire, UK, with the victor in the men's category one David Jakins, who has been entering the competition since 1977 and is (or was) something of a trusted figure within the conkering community.
But wait! Following Jakins' victory, the 82 year-old was searched by organisers, and the wily pensioner was then found to have a steel chestnut in his pocket, which had been painted brown. Jakins denies that he deployed this metallic interloper during the tournament, but an investigation is underway, with some of the competition suspecting nefarious tactics. Adding to these suspicions, Jakins won his quarter- and semi-final matches in one hit before doing the same in the final.
